»09/13/2012INDIAIndia, more violence against Christians. Governments complicit with Hindu nationalistsby Nirmala CarvalhoTwo new attacks in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, by the United National Party led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), notes "a growing intolerance, discrimination and persecution" against the minority community.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - "The Indian states where the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) is in power, close their eyes to the atrocities against
Christians" is the comment of Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians
(GCIC), two
new attacks in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, administered by the
ultra-nationalist Hindu party. In
both cases, activists of radical groups supported by the BJP attacked and
accused the pastors of the Christian communities of forced conversions and
proselytism.

The
first incident dates back to September 5th, in the village of Sagar
(Shimoga, Karnataka). The Rev. Damodara,
42, of the Parishudda Prarthanalaya Pentecostal
Church, led a prayer
service. Suddenly,
15 Hindu radicals led by a certain Omkara entered, attacking the pastor and the
faithful who are present there. The
activists then called the police to report Taligoppa Christians of forced
conversions. Arriving
on the scene, before shutting it down the agents beat the Rev. Damodara and
those present.

Informed
of the attack, the GCIC contacted a Sitaram police inspector, explaining what
had happened. The
official then ordered the pastor transferred to Sagar police station, for an
impartial interrogation. At
dawn, the priest was released without charges. Police
said the man signed a document, in which he claims not to be involved in forced
conversions. Even
the attackers had to sign a declaration stating that they would not interfere
with the Christian prayer services.

The
second incident took place on September 7 in Birmawal villages (Ratlam, Madhya
Pradesh). The victim was Rev. John Pargy, 26, of the India Gospel Church. The
pastor was distributing pamphlets on Christianity at the bus station, when 25
Hindu radicals of the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bajrang
Dal stopped him. Instead
of beating him, the activists dragged him to the local police station: the told
police that the pastor was publicly criticizing Hinduism and forced them to
drink cow's blood (an animal sacred to Hindus, and therefore untouchable , ed.) The
police held him in prison for three days, then released him.

"India
- said Sajan George - is a secular country. This means that it protects all
religions equally, and does not raise any belief to the level of state religion.
Yet, over 60 years since independence and the proclamation of our Constitution some
minority communities, such as Christians, are experiencing growing intolerance,
aggression and severe discrimination. "

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